2010 goes to Brenda Iijima's "PANTHERING"

Iijima and I have discussed aligning ourselves our bodies our homes our everything to divulging the path out of a selfish world bent on destruction. In "PANTHERING" Iijima shows a path, lit clear.

This was a difficult year to choose just one poem for this award. There are so many amazing books, and we're living in a rich time for poetry, and in that a space for poetry unflinchingly awake. Brenda Ijima's poem "PANTHERING" strikes a loud chord for a new and fearless voice. You can find this poem in its entirety in her new book IF NOT METAMORPHIC, which I highly recommend. I love this book, cover to cover!